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Ireland: Walking the West Country

Join VBT for an unforgettable, in-depth look at the Emerald Isle’s most splendid scenery during invigorating walks in Killarney and along the Kerry Way. Off the trail we’ll delight in the warmth and wit of the famously friendly locals and share a toast over a pint. Slainte!

10 Days

Activity Level: Easy / Moderate

Daily Mileage: 4 - 8 mi

Daily Walking: 2 - 5 hr

Small Groups: 20

Air Package Plus

Includes round-trip international airfare

10 Days From$3,845- Or -Choose Land Only7 Days From$2,945

Book This Tour

Why You'll Love This Tour

Overview

Ireland: Walking the West Country

From the rocky summits of stunning Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the sandy beaches of lovely Dingle Bay, the Irish landscape is thrillingly alive with a beauty so strong and so varied it takes our breath away. We’ll walk along beloved pathways by the Killarney Lakes, the glacial valley of the Gap of Dunloe, the Kerry Peninsula, Gleninchaquin Park, and Derrynane Bay, each location a living dream. We’ll also encounter the warmth, wit, and welcoming charm of the Irish people, as we join them in their cozy homes and convivial village pubs for refreshment and entertainment, as only the Irish can provide.

Cultural Highlights

Explore the green meadows, forested hillsides, and glistening streams and lakes of Killarney National Park.

Discover the Gap of Dunloe, a spectacular glacial valley, on foot or via a horse-drawn jaunting cart.

Walk through history along the old paths known as Kerry Way, Ireland’s most famous walking trail.

Hear a local Irishman present a performance piece on his childhood, and later join him in his home for tea and scones.

Meet the dedicated local custodians of beautifully groomed Gleninchaquin Park.

Visit the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, one of Ireland's leading historical figures, and enjoy lunch at the café.

Mingle with welcoming charming locals in festive village pubs.

What to Expect

This tour features a combination of paved roads and easy terrain, mixed with moderate hills, moorland and uneven footpaths, ideal for enthusiastic beginners to experienced walkers. Due to Ireland’s climate, the footpaths can often be wet and muddy. Our VBT minibus support is available at specified meeting points for those who need assistance. Both morning and afternoon walk options are available most days. Several of the walks require a transfer from our hotel to the start of the walk. Our tour leaders often use this time in the van for our morning route review, so we can enjoy a more leisurely morning at breakfast.

Air Package Plus Single Supplement: $395 | Land Only Single Supplement: $295

Please note: Web Special savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Standard Terms & Conditions apply when purchasing this trip. 2015 Prices include all airline surcharges and Government taxes and fees. Ask our Tour Consultants for details. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Prices are based on preferences selected above, including meals and sightseeing as specified in What’s Included. All prices are subject to change. Departure dates and prices shown may be updated several times daily, and apply to new bookings only.

Itinerary & Map

Or, Expand All Days

DAY 1: Depart from home / Fly overnight to Cork

Depart from home for Ireland. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive in Cork / Transfer to downtown Cork

Upon arrival at Cork’s airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill in a PIR form before leaving the customs area — VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign and will make arrangements for your transfer via taxi or van to our Cork hotel (transfer time is approximately 20 minutes, depending on traffic).

VBT provides you with City Information that includes information and recommendations about what to see and do in Cork. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or explore the city on your own.

Hotel: The Imperial Hotel

DAY 3: Walking tour begins / Killarney National Park / Muckross House

VBT No-Air Package guests: After breakfast on your own, meet one of your VBT Trip Leaders at Cork’s Imperial Hotel at 9:00 am (Address: South Mall, Cork, Republic of Ireland; Tel: +353 21 427 4040). To reach the hotel, you can take a taxi from Cork airport into the city (approximately 20 euros ), or travel on Bus Eireann, which provides frequent and direct coach service between Cork Airport, Cork City Center and Cork Bus Station (approximately 5 euros ; travel time is approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic; for more details go to www.buseireann.ie). Please note: If your arrival in Cork is scheduled for later than 9:00 am or if you are delayed, you must transfer at your own expense (approximately 180 euros for a taxi; travel time approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic) to our hotel in Killarney. Please contact our Cork hotel to advise them of any delays or changes, and the hotel staff will pass the message along to our VBT Trip Leaders.

VBT Air Package and Pre-trip Extension guests: Meet one of your VBT Trip Leaders in the hotel lobby at 9:00 am. Once we’ve gathered, there will be a short introductory meeting, followed by a transfer via private bus from Cork to Killarney, a journey of approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic. Our first destination is Killarney National Park. Ensure you are prepared for a day of walking, as the bus will continue with our luggage to our hotel after leaving us at the park entrance. Here we meet our second VBT Trip Leader and see stunning vistas of the Killarney Lakes and their impressive mountain backdrop. We walk through a lush meadow, along a river and through the woodlands to reach the lakeshore. Across the waters, we’ll admire the tree-smothered slopes of Tomies Wood, stretching upwards towards the peaks of the Shehy and Tomies mountains. We continue along the shoreline through a delightful woodland glade until we come across the magnificent manor, Muckross House.

After an included lunch in the manor’s Garden Restaurant, we have the choice of enjoying a stroll through magnificent displays of ornamental shrubs, flower beds, and wide expanses of manicured lawns, or continuing with a walk around Muckross Lake. This walk takes us through ancient woodlands, over Brickeen Bridge, and across Dinish Island to the Meeting of the Waters and the Old Weir Bridge. All the while, we are surrounded by wonderful views, small lakeside beaches and rocky coves.

We then meet our bus and drive to our hotel in Killarney—our home for the next three nights—collecting non-walkers at Muckross House on the way.

After some free time to settle in, we’ll get to know our fellow travelers and Trip Leaders better during a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

After breakfast, we transfer to Kate Kearney’s Cottage, the site where the legendary 19th-century beauty who made and sold an illicit brew “very fierce and wild, requiring not less than seven times its own quantity of water to tame and subdue it.” Now a popular shop and pub, it’s also the starting point for today’s walk, which takes us up a steady paved incline and through a spectacular glacial valley, known as the Gap of Dunloe. Our trail parallels a mountain stream over rugged terrain lined with massive boulders, until we reach the pass between Macgillycuddy’s Reeks—Ireland’s tallest mountain range, at 3,414 feet—and the Purple Mountains. Then we descend into the Black Valley. Throughout our journey, we’ll have a horse-drawn jaunting cart at the ready for those who want a break.

A lakeside picnic awaits us at Lord Brandon’s Cottage. From here, we board open boats and cruise to Ross Castle, a 15th-century tower house, as our boatmen regale us with tales of Napolean, King Brian Boru and others who’ve passed this way.

This evening, shuttle into Killarney for dinner on your own. You’ll also have the opportunity to mingle with locals over a pint of Guinness in one of Killarney’s lively pubs.

Hotel: Loch Lein Country HouseMeals: B, LDaily Options: 7 miles on a gradually ascending, then gradually descending paved path. Can be shortened by riding in an accompanying jaunting cart.

DAY 5: Glenbeigh and the Kerry Way

Today’s walk brings us to the northern part of the Kerry Peninsula. After a short drive, our bus will leave us at the trailhead—a quiet, paved country road circling Seefin Mountain. As we walk, enjoy spectacular views over Lough Caragh. At the end of the road, you have the option of rejoining the minibus and meeting the group in Glenbeigh, or walking to Glenbeigh up the mountain on a footpath through Windy Gap. This path is part of the Kerry Way, a 135-mile walking route over old droving paths and coach roads.

Upon reaching Glenbeigh, enjoy free time for lunch on your own in this quaint town.

After lunch, you have two options: You can shuttle two miles to Rossbehy Creek and take a short walk along White Strand, a beautiful sandy beach on a small peninsula stretching into Dingle Bay. Or you can walk along the banks of River Behy and follow the Kerry Way through the sloped woods of Curra Hill, then shuttle down to Rossbehy Beach.

Tonight before an included dinner, we meet Denis Kissane, a local friend who will give a nostalgic presentation on his childhood in “The Old Bohareen.”

Hotel: Loch Lein Country HouseMeals: B, DDaily Options: Morning: 3 or 5 miles on an undulating dirt trail with optional ascent, then descent in the last 2 miles, Afternoon: 2 miles of flat paved road and rolling dirt trail.

After breakfast, pack your luggage, as we depart Killarney today for Kenmare. First, though, we take a very short drive to Castle Ross Hotel, for a walk in Killarney’s beautiful parklands. You can stop at Killarney Cathedral, then venture into town for shopping, or join our Trip Leaders for a walk around Ross Island. More of a peninsula than an island, Ross Island is heavily wooded with a network of paths leading to attractive viewpoints overlooking Lough Leane. Also visible are remains of former copper mines, some dating back 4,000 years to the prehistoric Bronze Age and others from the 19th century.

After free time for lunch in Killarney, we visit our newfound friend, Denis Kissane, who has invited us to see both his childhood home (featured in his talk yesterday evening) and his current home, where he will entertain us over tea or coffee and freshly made scones. Afterward, we continue to Kenmare.

Tonight is free for you to explore the town, a four-minute walk away along a footpath directly opposite the hotel. Dinner is on your own.

After a leisurely start to our morning, we explore Kenmare Market, where vendors sell everything from cheese and soda bread to antique tools. Afterward, we shuttle 15 miles to Gleninchaquin Park, located at the end of a beautiful valley. Here we meet the park’s custodians, Peggy and Donal Corkery, whose ancestors have lived in the valley for more than 130 years. Then, choose from a variety of walks, from gentle farm or river strolls to a more challenging walk above a 448-foot waterfall (well worth the effort for the amazing views!). Make sure you visit the Heritage Site to see the reconstructed 19th-century cottage that was typical in this area.

After leaving the park, we drive to a nearby pier overlooking Kenmare Bay to enjoy a special lunch of freshly prepared Irish salmon.

This afternoon, we shuttle back to Kenmare, where you’ll have free time to experience this pretty town on your own. Choose from among Kenmare’s many pubs or restaurants for dinner on your own this evening.

Today the scenery is spectacular as we walk along the southwestern section of the Kerry Way, with views of tiny islands, towering cliffs and some of the finest beaches in Europe.

For those who would like a slightly more challenging option, our morning trailhead begins along a single-track road. We follow this path along another section of the Kerry Way, known to the locals as the Old Butter Road. This leads us along farm tracks and then into open moorland. There is a slight incline before we drop down into Caherdaniel, where we’re met with one of the best views in Ireland, overlooking Derrynane Bay.

Once in Caherdaniel, a pretty coastal village on the bay’s shores, we transfer by bus to Derrynane House. The ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, one of Ireland’s leading historical figures, Derrynane House today is a public museum.

If you’d prefer the easier option, you may shuttle directly to Derrynane Bay and enjoy a lovely walk with one of our Trip Leaders across to Abbey Island. Here we’ll view the remains of a tenth-century abbey and a local cemetery.

We all meet for an included lunch in the café at Derrynane House, followed by a tour of the museum. Derrynane House is furnished with a variety of items belonging to Daniel O’Connell, including the dueling pistol he used to kill rival John D’Esterre in 1815, the black glove he wore in remembrance of that day, and the fabulous gold chariot he rode through Dublin to greet jubilant crowds upon his release from prison. A video presentation outlines the life and times of the man known as the Great Liberator.

You’ll also have time at leisure here to explore the gardens behind the house, walk around the Derrynane Dunes nature trail, or simply relax on one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, with more than a mile of golden sand. We’ll regroup at the Keatings Bar, a cozy pub located in a small room in a private house. After an included drink, we shuttle back to Kenmare.

This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner in our hotel and bid goodbye to our VBT Leaders.

Hotel: Brook Lane HotelMeals: B, L, DDaily Options: Morning: 2 or 3.7 miles on a rolling dirt road and open moorland with some stairs/stiles to cross fences. Afternoon: 1 mile on grassy dunes and sandy beach.

DAY 9: Walking Tour Ends / Transfer to Kinsale

VBT No-Air Package guests: Our tour finishes at the hotel after breakfast. Please note: The hotel will help you book a taxi, at your own expense, to either Killarney railway station (approximately 60 euros; travel time approximately 50 minutes), Cork Airport (approximately 150 euros; travel time approximately 2 hours), or Shannon Airport (approximately 250 euros; travel time approximately 3 hours).

VBT Air Package and Post-trip Extension guests: Transfer by private motorcoach to the medieval town of Kinsale. It has an abundance of traditional bars and restaurants, beautiful buildings, narrow streets, shops and galleries, and a pretty harbor area.

Once you arrive in Kinsale, settle in and have lunch, before meeting a local guide and enjoy a walking tour that explains the colorful story of Kinsale from its medieval walled town to the sinking of the Lusitania. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore this quaint town on your own. VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes recommendations about what to see and do in Kinsale.

Kinsale has been seasoned liberally by Norman, Spanish and English influences since the Middle Ages, but nowadays most of the seasoning takes place in the numerous fine restaurants that make this the “Gourmet Capital of Ireland.” Kinsale is also a yachting and fishing center, hence its reputation for great seafood!

Hotel: The Trident HotelMeals: B

DAY 10: Depart for home or begin optional Dublin extension

After breakfast,* transfer to the Cork airport for your return flight.**

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, full breakfast at the hotel may not be available, in which case a cold tray can be delivered to your room. Please check with the reception desk to verify the times when breakfast is served and to arrange for your cold tray, if necessary.

**VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport is at your own expense.

The Schoolhouse Hotel

Unique, intimate and ideally located within a 10-minute walk of Trinity College, the National Museum, Grafton Street and other city attractions, this 4-star hotel exudes a warm, friendly atmosphere and is a hidden gem close to the center of the city. While here, perhaps you’ll indulge in a pampering treatment at the spa. Savor a choice of French and Irish specialties at the hotel restaurant. And relax amid luxurious appointments in one of 31 guest rooms, each named for a famous Irish writer.

Loch Lein Country House

Our gateway to the Ring of Kerry is the charming Loch Lein Country House, a 4-star lodging in the village of Fossa with views of the Macgillicuddy Reeks and Killarney’s Lower Lake (Lough Lein). Our hosts, Paul and Annette Corridan, go out of their way to make us feel welcome with superb food and a true family atmosphere. Enjoy the view from your spacious room with private bath and fine furnishings, or relax in the lounge or beautiful gardens. Golfers can avail themselves of four nearby golf courses. Fishing and horse riding are available, too.

The Imperial Hotel

This is one of Cork’s most exclusive properties. Historic architecture merges with contemporary design to create a magical environment. The Imperial Hotel has been serving Cork since 1813, when the Cork Committee of Merchants commissioned architect Sir Thomas Deane to design and build The Commercial Rooms. In 1816, the merchants requested Deane to extend the original building along Pembroke Street to serve as a hotel and coach-yard. The Imperial Hotel, originally the place where merchants met to discuss business, remains the most popular business and social center in the city today.

Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With LOw-Cost Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension - Cork

2 nights for only $245

Two nights at the Imperial Hotel

Daily Irish breakfast

City Information

Airport transfers

The city of Cork is quickly gaining a reputation as a must-visit European hub. It’s lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere and vibrant social and cultural scene are equally powerful draws. You’ll have the time to explore it all during your stay, including some of the surrounding sights, such as Blarney Castle, with its legendary, eponymous stone, and Cobh (formerly Queenstown), the last port visited by the Titanic during her maiden voyage.

Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single supplement: $95

DAY 1: Depart from home and fly overnight to Cork, Ireland

Depart from home for Ireland. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

DAY 2: Arrive in Cork

Upon arrival at Cork's airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill in a PIR form before leaving the customs area — VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign and will make arrangements for your transfer via taxi or van to your Cork hotel (transfer time is approximately 20 minutes, depending on traffic).

VBT provides you with CIty Information that includes information and recommendations about what to see and do in Cork. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or explore the city on your own. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or explore the city on your own.

Hotel: The Imperial Hotel

DAY 3: Independent exploration of Cork

Enjoy your first day of independent exploration in Ireland's second-largest city. The bustle of the Victorian English Market is probably the best place to experience Cork. It's an indoor covered market owned by the Cork City Council and situated on the Grand Parade, just a short walk from our hotel. After exploring the rest of the downtown area, you may wish to take a short walk (about a mile) from the city center up to the restored and atmospheric City Gaol, complete with furnished cells. Both the exhibition and multimedia display here trace the lives of individual inmates imprisoned in the gaol during the 19th and 20th centuries. At the same location is the Cork Heritage Center, depicting life in Cork during the 19th and early-20th centuries.

Hotel: The Imperial HotelMeals: B

DAY 4: Independent exploration of Cork / Join VBT Air Package guests

This morning, you may wish to head farther afield and visit one of several nearby attractions. Blarney Castle, about five miles from Cork City Center, was built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland's greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, including a host of American presidents, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland's greatest treasures. At the top of the castle's tower, you'll find the legendary Blarney Stone, or Stone of Eloquence. Legend promises that if you kiss it, you'll never again be at a loss for words.

About 14 miles away is Cobh, the last port-of-call for the Titanic on her maiden voyage. Here you can visit the Queenstown Story Heritage Center, which tells the story of emigration from Cobh during the Great Potato Famine in 1845 up to the era of the great ocean liners in the 1950s.

VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Hotel: The Imperial HotelMeals: B

Post-Trip Extension - Dublin

2 nights for only $445

Two nights in the Schoolhouse Hotel

Daily Irish breakfast

City Information

Airport transfers

Charming Dublin is among Europe’s oldest and most culturally rich cities. During your two nights here, follow your own curiosities, which may lead you to Trinity College, where you can view the ancient Book of Kells, and stroll through Merrion Square. Visit the Dublin Writers’ Museum, which pays tribute to Irish literary figures including Wilde, Shaw, Joyce, Yeats and Beckett. See a show at the Abbey Theatre or shop on Grafton Street. In the evenings, stop in for a pint at one of the many pubs and chic restaurants in the historic Temple Bar area.
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Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single supplement: $195

DAY 1: Independent exploration of Dublin

This morning, transfer to the Cork train station for your train ride (approximately 3 hours) to Dublin. There is no VBT representative with you on the train, but one will meet you upon arrival in Dublin and help you transfer to your hotel (approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic). Please note: Upon arrival at the hotel, please reconfirm with the Reception Desk the time of your transfer to the Dublin airport for your return flight to the U.S. You have the remainder of the day free to take in the atmosphere of Dublin and to seek out an interesting pub or restaurant for dinner on your own.

You remain in Dublin for an additional night on your own. VBT provides you with City Information that includes recommendations about what to see and do in Dublin.

Hotel: The Schoolhouse HotelMeals: B

DAY 2: Independent exploration of Dublin

One of the oldest cities in Europe, Dublin provides visitors with a multitude of cultural riches—history, architecture, literature, art, archaeology and the performing arts—ranging from the ancient to the avant-garde. Monuments commemorate the writers, poets, statesmen, soldiers and ordinary people who make Dublin a place like no other. Medieval, Georgian and modern architecture provide a backdrop to a friendly, bustling port that claims as native sons such literary giants as Wilde, Shaw, Joyce, Yeats, Beckett and O'Casey. Spawned by the need to ford the River Liffey, fortified by the Danes, developed by the Normans and adorned with Anglo-Irish architecture, Dublin has grown in stature and elegance over the centuries.

Today you may want to explore Trinity College, the Dublin Writers' Museum or Christ Church Cathedral. Take in a show at the Abbey Theatre, or at one of the city's many other venues. Hoist a pint with Dubliners at a traditional Irish pub, or stop in at a trendy wine bar in the Temple Bar area. Walk along the River Liffey or through one of the city's many shopping squares.

Hotel: The Schoolhouse HotelMeals: B

DAY 3: Depart for the U.S.

After breakfast,* transfer to the Dublin airport for your flight home.**

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, full breakfast at the hotel may not be available, in which case a cold tray can be delivered to your room. Please check with the reception desk to verify the times when breakfast is served and to arrange for your cold tray, if necessary.

**VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport is at your own expense.

Meals: B

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